The third annual Gran Fondo Badlands event is gearing up to host over 800 cyclists in  the valley. 

This year’s Gran Fondo Badlands is set to take off on Saturday, June 25. 

This event has gained popularity since its first run two years ago. There has been a burst of bikers making the trip to ride in the beautiful landscape of the valley. 

 “We have a fellow coming down from Italy. A lot of people travel down from Ontario and British Columbia, as well,” says organizer of the event, Rick Skeith. 

The event kicks off at 8:00 am after a breakfast at the Badlands Community Facility. From there, bikers will proceed on a route that winds in and out of the valley.

There will be tents set up to serve refreshments for the bikers along the route. The event is also looking into having a massage therapist on hand to massage the biker’s sore, well used, muscles. 

  This Gran Fondo race is designed for the average bicycle enthusiast with turn around points at 50km, 75km, 100km, and 140km. 

  “It does not matter when you decide to turn around. You can turn around when your legs finally overpower your brain and you know you  can’t do it anymore,” says Skeith. 

The organizers stress that this event is not a race and is open to anyone looking to take a bike ride through the valley. 

The Drumheller Coed Recreational Soccer League has a new champ as Team Recovery won their first title.

The championship match wasThursday night, June 23, and after a short weather delay, Recovery took on Esso for the trophy.

The final game was close but Recovery came away with the victory, winning 3-2.  Liam O'Brien had two goals and Wes Chung scored one in the win for Recovery. Shem Mageto and Lucy Deitzer scored for Esso.
Previously on Tuesday night, Allied FC claimed the bronze medal over Riverside Value Drug Mart with a score of 3-1.

This wraps up the third season for the recreational soccer league and one of the best years with 80 participating.

Indicative of the league parity this year, the top teams in league were beat out. This year Recovery finished league play in fourth place and Esso finished in third.

“This was the third straight year that the first place team has not won the league,” said organizer Gavin Makse. "That just goes to show how this league can change from week to week, from month to month."

"At the end of the day, all the playoff games were close, competitive games and that is what we wanted."

He said the league is looking at a few changes to keep it on an even keel competition-wise.

Soccer players who want to continue to have fun and get some exercise over the summer can come to drop in at the soccer fields on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m., everyone is welcome.

Makse adds they are looking to put together a higher caliber men's team to play some out of town competition over the summer.